Asajj woke just as the sun was beginning to set beneath the Coruscant skyline. Curiously, her mind was unburdened and clear, very much the opposite of what it had been when Obi-Wan had left. One mental recount of Yoda's offer was all she needed to realize she had made her decision. Perhaps she had just needed sleep after all rather than seemingly endless agonizing over every little detail (although she was nothing if not thorough). She climbed out of bed, located her clothes, and was out the door in under a minute. She had a verdict to deliver.

With a little assistance from the Force, she found the old Jedi in a walled courtyard. The setting sun painted the pale stone in shades of orange and red, shadows from the flowering trees now grown long and deformed. Yoda stood with his back to her amid a half-circle of small boulders. She called out his name, but he didn't budge. Rather than be annoyed at his apparent ignorance of her presence, Asajj felt only a sense of calm. That had to have been emanating from the Jedi or even from the Force itself; her own supply of patience was never deep to begin with.

She waited. And waited. Lights from neighboring spacescrapers and traffic lanes took over when the dusk deepened. Some windows in the Temple became illuminated by their occupants; others remained dark. Asajj opened her mouth again-

"Come here sometimes, I do," Yoda said suddenly. "Quiet it is. Peaceful. A good place to think."

"Same can be said for inside the Temple," Asajj countered.

A tentative smile creased Yoda's wizened face when he finally turned to her. "True, that is. But not the same."

She didn't want to even attempt to figure out what he meant by that right now. She had something important to say. "Look, I've been thinking about your offer-"

"Good! Good to think on such things before deciding."

Asajj gave him a look, but didn't comment on his interruption. "I've been thinking and I have a question for you."

Yoda hmm'd. "Expect that, I did."

"Just one: would you have extended it if you hadn't known about me and Obi-Wan?" She said it softly in case any ears were hidden nearby, but once they were out of her mouth the full weight of reality seemed to fall on her. She was engaging in a forbidden relationship with a man whom she had once detested on principle alone, a man she had come to love so fiercely, who stood to lose absolutely everything should the truth come to light.

Yoda's face became just as serious as her thoughts. His eyes lowered to her feet as he leaned onto his gimer stick. "Hmmm, a difficult question," he muttered, "with an answer just as difficult." He took a deep breath and closed his eyes; Asajj was glad he was at least taking her seriously. "When met we did, cloaked in the Dark Side, you were. Like a shroud you wore it." His fathomless gaze turned up to meet hers, rooting her to the spot. "Many grievous things did you do in service to the Sith. Terrible things. Out of pain did you commit such acts, not evil. Believed Master Kenobi I did when told us of your abandonment of the Dark Side on Boz Pity did he. Always sensed Light in you, he did. And trust his judgment I do."

Asajj crossed her arms. "That doesn't answer my question."

"When informed of your death on Boz Pity, sadness I felt. Believed that you could have been one of the Order's best, young Kenobi did. As did I." He fixed her with a crooked smile at her surprised expression. "If came to us on your own, and with genuine desire to rejoin the Order your Master had begun training you for, then yes. Asked you to return in full, I would have." A heavy pause settled between them. "Of course, in the minority I would have been," he chuckled as an afterthought.

That light mirth made Asajj smile, too. "Are you not in the minority as it is, Master Yoda?"

That got a true laugh out of him. "Quite right you are, young one. But more interesting it is to take the path less traveled."

Asajj turned into herself for a moment, let herself gently reach for Obi-Wan's steadily pulsing light in her mind; not enough that it would interrupt whatever he was doing at the moment, just so she could brace herself a bit more for what she was about to say. One deep breath before the plunge...

"Then I accept your offer, Master Yoda." She uncrossed her arms and bowed at the waist; it seemed like the appropriate thing to do given the gravity of the situation. "I would be honored to rejoin the Jedi Order."

"Why?"

She blinked and straightened. Well, that wasn't the response she was expecting. "What?"

Yoda's eyes didn't waver from hers. "Why accept?"

Was this a test? Ky Narec would sometimes play this game with her when she was a child; she didn't like it then, and she didn't like it now. "I gave you your answer-"

"But not your reason." The tiny Jedi put one clawed hand behind his back and began walking a circle around the rock formation. Asajj felt like she was being put on trial all over again...only this time her life wasn't on the line. "What feel you in your heart to accept this offer, one not made to another fallen from the Light?"

Asajj narrowed her eyes at him as he walked. Yes, this had to be a test. She straightened her shoulders and clasped her hands in front of her. "I am without a home, without a family...except for Obi-Wan, I suppose. I've walked alone in Darkness for too long. I feel it's time to come home."

"So, for him you make this decision?"

"No. For myself. Obi-Wan and I are bonded through the Force. Nothing will ever change that regardless of whether I rejoin the Jedi or not. And he's already assured me several times that I will have his support no matter what I decide. But..." She had to think for a long moment. Once, she had been good with using words to manipulate others, but she hadn't done that for a very long time. Now they seemed to fail her when she needed them most. "Look, I recognize that what I did in Dooku's service was wrong. Wrong and hateful and terrible. Nothing I can say or do will ever make up for that. Since I gave up my hold on the Dark Side, I fully feel the weight of my past actions."

"So, for penance? A way to undo the past?"

With great effort, Asajj reined in her irritation; she really hated this game. "No. A way to try to do more good in the future than bad I've done in the past. I cannot change what has happened, but I can at least try to make sure it doesn't happen again to someone else. No one deserves to go through what I subjected countless beings to."

Yoda continued his stroll, but didn't immediately reply. Was that a good thing? Had she given him the answers he wanted? "And," he finally sighed, "none deserve to suffer the way you did, young Ventress." He stopped in front of her, clawed hands clasped on top of his stick, and looked up at her with an inscrutable gaze. "Back into the Order, I welcome you."

Asajj watched him bow his head to her. Was that it? Was this game over? Now that she had made her decision and had it accepted, what was she supposed to do now? "T-Thank you, Master Yoda."

"Thank me yet, do not." That little laugh had returned to his voice as he said that. "A long road, a hard road you have to walk. Difficult it will be to unlearn all that you have learned. Even more difficult to earn the trust of the Jedi. Prepared for this, are you?"

Asajj took a deep breath. "I am."

Yoda smiled. "Good. Now, come." He hobbled past her back towards the Temple. Lights had begun to shine in the windows and doorways as night settled over this side of Coruscant. She followed him. "This meeting you saw between Dooku and Sidious. Investigated the warehouse, Master Windu did. Found no physical trace did he, but confirmed the presence of the Dark Side, he did."

"I could have told you that," Asajj grumbled. She had provided visual confirmation of Dooku and his Master, hadn't she? If the Jedi still doubted the evidence right in front of their eyes, maybe she should rethink her decision to rejoin them.

Yoda didn't comment. Instead, he said, "Unknown the identity of Sidious is to us still. But know what to look for in the Force, we do now. Monitor that area of the Works, we will. And recognized the clasp on his robe, you did. If seen again, recognize his identity, you can?"

"Perhaps. Like I said, I never met him face-to-face. And there could be hundreds of brooches identical to that one throughout the galaxy."

"Give up already, have you?" Yoda chuckled. "Not the Jedi way, that is. Your first lesson, this will be. Trust in yourself, trust in the Force." He stopped and pointed one clawed finger at her. "Deceived your eyes and mind can be. Doubt, insecurity, fear. Lead you astray from the truth, they will. Control them before they control you."

Asajj stayed rooted to the spot when he turned and began walking again. She shook her head. "You make it sound so easy," she muttered as she caught up to him.

"Easy, words are," he agreed. "Much more difficult actions are. Told you, I did, how hard your path will now be. But infinitely rewarding when you succeed."

That brought a smile to her face. He didn't say 'if'. He said 'when'. No one other than Ky and Obi-Wan had ever had such faith in her. But a question surged forward in her mind, one she had not considered when pondering Yoda's initial offer. "Master Yoda, who will be my teacher now that I'm...?" She didn't quite know how to finish the thought.

"Mmmm, a good question, that is. A bond you already have with Master Obi-Wan." Asajj winced. She loved and respected Obi-Wan deeply, but she didn't like the thought of her lover becoming her teacher. "Complicate that further, we should not." A breath of relief left her lips and took her worry with it. "Teach you, I will."

She froze again. Yoda was throwing surprises at her left and right. No wonder even Obi-Wan couldn't figure him out. The enormity of those four words wasn't lost on her. The Grand Master of the Jedi Order was willing to take her as his student. Her former Master's Master was willing to teach her. "I...I would be honored, Master. But what will the Council say? Don't you have to consult them on such a decision?"

"Inform them, I will," he chuckled, "but ask permission to take on a Padawan, I do not have to. Rest, you should now. Prepare yourself for your lessons, you should. Begin at first light, we will."

"Yes...Master." She would never admit it, but it felt good to say that word in earnest again.

She was too wound up to sleep. She'd spent all afternoon asleep and now her life had taken a drastic turn, hopefully for the better. How could anyone sleep after that? She laid on her bed, staring at the ceiling, then sent a ripple across her Force bond with her lover. Obi-Wan.

Hello there, beloved, he replied instantly. His aura flashed into brilliant life and wrapped around hers; she could almost feel his arms around her.

I've made my decision. She felt him pause as if holding his breath. Truthfully, she felt her breath hitch just a bit, too. I...accepted. I'm back in the Jedi Order.

There was a moment of utter silence that sent a pang through her heart before complete, all-consuming joy flooded their bond. It would have suffocated her if it had been a physical thing. That's wonderful, Asajj! I'm so happy for you!

Really? I couldn't tell, she thought with a light laugh.

Have you been assigned to a Master yet?

Now she smirked. Not really. More like he assigned himself to me.

She could feel the tiniest bit of confusion mixed in with her bondmate's delight and pride. What do you mean? Who?

Yoda. Obi-Wan's side of the bond went suddenly quiet. Weird, right?

Well, yes, but probably not for the reason you're thinking.

Asajj turned onto her side. How so?

Master Yoda hasn't taken on apprentice since Dooku. He never talked about it, but I always got the feeling that he blamed himself for Dooku's fall. At least partially. She could very clearly picture Obi-Wan crossing his arms over his chest and lifting one hand to stroke his beard now. It's very...curious that he would take on the task of your training. I've no doubt that Yoda is still a capable teacher; he continues to mentor younglings and Masters alike, after all. But I do wonder if some part of him believes that he can make up for his mistakes with Dooku.

Wouldn't that be a good thing, though?

Another caress through their bond sent a pleasant tingle down her spine. I can't say for certain, dearest. I'm not certain anyone can understand what goes on in Master Yoda's head. I could be completely wrong in my assumption, however. But I do know this: he wouldn't have made the offer if he didn't see truly great potential in you.

Asajj smiled. Well, let's just hope I don't screw up training again this time. She didn't need to elaborate; after all, she'd told him everything about Ky Narec months ago.

I know you won't, darling.

Sometimes I wonder if you have too much faith in me to be healthy, Obi-Wan, she chuckled. But I'll take what I can get. She felt more than heard his responding laugh, like a low rumble in her chest. I won't keep you, my love. I just thought you might want to hear the news first.

Another embrace with a wave of love. I am truly happy for you, Asajj. I know you'll make wonderful progress by the time I see you again.

Of course I will. I'm a fast learner, she thought with a playful grin. His presence faded from her mind like a warm lingering touch of hands.

She had no doubt the next day would bring all manner of headaches for her, not just due to her training. She was now in the company of the very people she had waged a personal vendetta against for most of her life. She'd even made a game of killing Jedi, keeping score and taunting her victims with the numbers before adding them to her count. The Jedi could preach about the absence of emotion all they wanted, but they were still sentient beings. Obi-Wan may have forgiven her for the atrocities of her past, but he was a special case. No one else knew her like he did; she trusted no one else but him. The rest of the Jedi...well, if they were even half as bad as Skywalker, she could be in for some very problematic days.

But...hadn't Yoda shown some measure of faith and trust in her? Hadn't he taken a very big risk in accepting her as his Padawan? Would that afford her some manner of protection from the rest of the Order?

Asajj shook her head. It wouldn't do any good to dwell on the what-ifs. So long as she wasn't expected to socialize with the other Jedi very much, then she could live with the isolation that was sure to come with her training. She neither needed nor wanted friends, let alone among the people she had once hated above all others. All she needed was a mission, something to do with her life that would make even the tiniest difference. And Obi-Wan, of course. That was enough for her.